Box office control system



March 23, 1954 Filed June '7, 1949 R. THOMPSON 2,673,036

BOX-OFFICE CONTROL SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 OVERHEAD INDICATOR TAXABLE PASSES PASSES l7 l6 RELAY AND TREADLE JUNCTION BOX SWITCH REGISTER AND PRINTER -ll'| l I I I I I IOHIaJsL |||19141 @gng 86m TRANSACTIONS ADULTS CHILDREN w gg g PASSES INVENTOR. RflLPH L THUWPSUN BY BOX-OFFICE CONTROL SYSTEM Filed June 7, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VERHEAD -|NDICATOR TRANSACTI ONS ADULTS IN V EN TOR.

RHL PH L. THU/7IP5UN PRINTER BY REGISTER a;

a H TTOR/VEV Patented Mar. 23, 1954 BOX OFFICE CONTROL SYSTEM Ralph L. Thompson, New Hyde Park, N. Y.;

Jacqueline E. Thompson, administratrix of said Ralph L. Thompson, deceased, assignor to Neptune Meter Company, poration of New Jersey New York, N. Y., a cor- Application June '7, 1949, Serial No. 97,539,

3 Claims. 1

The present invention relates in general to box offlce control systems, and more particularly to a box ofiice control system for drive-in theatres.

With relatively few exceptions, the drive-in theatres built in this country operate according to standard box ofiice technique as used at any local theatre. Each time an admission is paid in accordance with common practice, a ticket is issued to the purchaser to be later surrendered to the doorman, who retains half the ticket stub, returning the other half of the stub to the purchaser. In operating the drive-in theaters a modification of the standard procedure is normally employed in that a number of runners are used by each of the cashiers booths. These runners approach the car awaiting admission to the drive-in theatre, count the number of occupants and collect the required number of admissions. The runner then returns to his booth and turns over the money collected to the cashier, who in turn issues the required number of admission tickets. The runner then returns to the car and turns over the issued tickets to the driver thereof. The driver then proceeds with the car and its occupants to an entrance where a doorman collects the tickets, returning the stubs to the driver, the stubs retained being deposited in a suitable receptacle.

From the above outline of the box oil'ice control system as used in present day drive-in theatres,

it will be appreciated that this system is both costly and cumbersome, leading to unwarranted delays in admitting the cars to the theatre proper, the possibility of collusion of the cashiers, runners, and doormen, with no adequate way of fixing responsibility, and the attendant trash problem presented by the returned ticket stubs.

It is therefore an object of my present invention to provide a box ofiice control system for a drive-in theatre in which the runners and doormen are eliminated, and wherein the cashier completes the entire transaction of collecting the admissions and admitting the cars and occupants into the drive-in theatre proper.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a box oilice control system for drive-in theatres in which the cashier at the booth will register the admissions, the registry of the admissions forming a transaction count which is correlated with an actual car count made at the time of entry of the automobile into the theatre.

, A further object of this invention is to provide a box office control system for drive-in theatres of the general character indicated in which the admissions, number of transactions, car counts,

etc., are registered on visual and/or printing counter wheels thereby eliminating the need for issuing the usual theatre tickets.

Still anotherobject of this invention is to provide a control system of the general character indicated in which admissions of various types may be registered and recorded, as for example, adult admissions, children admissions, taxable passes, and free passes.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide a box office control system of the character indicated in which thenumber and type of admissions are indicated by an overhead signal and/or a remotely positioned signal to call general attention to the type of transaction completed by the cashier.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a box oiiice control system for drive-in theatres of the character described which will meet the requirements of the U. S.Internal Revenue Department for the collection of taxes on theatre tickets, which has heretofore been computed on the serial numbers printed on such tickets.

And another object of this invention is to provide a box ofiice control system for drive-in theatres of the character described which shall consist of relatively few and simple parts, inexpensive to manufacture, which shall be positive and accurate in operation, which shall have a large variety of application and yet be practical and efiicient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention is shown, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of the entire box office control system, including the register and printer, and the overhead indicator, while Fig. 2 is a schematic wiring diagram of the control system, the necessary operating mechanisms being shown therewith.

The several objects of my invention are accompllshed by providing in each collection'booth of, a drive-in theatre a register incorporating thereon a series of telephone dials, a dial being stop provided for each type of admission to be collected. Operation of the telephone dial by the cashier when collecting the admissions will op erate a relay circuit to advance a set of counter wheels a number equal to the admissions collected. The operation of the telephone dial will complete a circuit to advance a separate set of wheels to register transaction. Thus, each admittance into the drive-in theatre will provide a registration of the transaction and the admissions.

A treadle switch is also provided in the above outlined system whereby a car count is registered. Each car entering'the theatre will pass over the treadle switch to complete a circuit for the advancement of still another set of counter wheels, the totals of the car-count counter and the transaction counter giving a positive check on the admissions made.

The system as more fully described hereinafter, is characterized by a remote or overhead indicator which is operated in conjunction with the admission counter to provide a visual indication or the transaction completed.

Special provisions are incorporated in the box office control system to provide accurate. counts of the special admissions collected, as for example, children admissions, taxable passes, and free passes. In collecting such admissions a transaction count is normally not necessary,

- the car.

Referring now in detail to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the numeral It designates a box oilice control system for a drive-in theatre comprising a register H for the collection booth under the jurisdiction of a cashier, a relay and junction box [2 connected thereto as by cable 3, a register and printer 14 connected to the box 1 2v as by .a cable I5 and connected via saidjunction box and cable Iii to a treadle switch placed in the roadway or entrance to the theatre, and an overhead indicator I8 connected .to the register H through the junction box [.2 and a. cable [9. The overhead indicator is of the usual type in which a sectionalized enclosure is provided with a cover glass divided into a corresponding number. of panels, each of. the panels being etched, masked or suitably marked with numeral designations, usually in serial order. As will hereinafter be described, a lamp in each of the sections, when energized, will illuminate the corresponding individual panel. It will be appreciated that the system as shown in the drawings and. thus far r:

described may easily incorporate the register H, the junction box 12, and the register and printer 3 1 as a single unit if so desired; the separate units as shown are for the purpose of illustration.

The cashier register I I .is provided with a series of telephone dials 22, 23, and .24; a dial being provided for each type of admission to be collected. In the drawings, the dial 22 has been designated for adult admissions, the dial 23 for children admissions, and. the dial 24 for taxable passes.

Referring now to Fig. .2. of the drawings, the dial 22 is shownv connectedv into a relay circuit for operating the counter wheels and the overhead indicator IS. The telephone dial 22 is of the usual type having a rotatable face plate 28 provided with the ten finger openings 29. and the Fixed to the back, of the dial are three switches 31, .32, and 33; the switches 32 and 33 being tied together by an insulating bar 34. The

switch 32 is normally held open and the switch 33 held closed by an insulated pin 36 when the dial plate 28 is in its home position as shown in the drawings. The pin 36 is adapted to be r0- tated with the face plate to permit the switch 32 to close and the switch 33 to open. The switch 3| is normally closed when the dial is inits home position but is adapted to be opened upon rotation of the face plate 28 in dialing the number of admissions paid. The release of the face plate and its subsequent return to its home position will oscillate an insulated pin 3'! against the arm of the switch 31' causing the switch to be opened and closed a number of times corresponding to v the number dialed.

The telephone dial 22 is also provided with a acting with the switch 40 is a pivoted lever arm 4! and an insulated pin 42. Rotatable with the face plate 28 of the dial is a spring biased cam 43 pivoted. to said. plate as at M. The action of the cam is such that upon rotation of the plate 28 in dialing a number, the cam will abut the lever 4| rotating the same in a, counterclockwise direction to momentarily close the switch 40. The return of the face. plate 28 to its home position will not close the switch 46 a second time due to the rotation of the cam 43 about its pivot 34. upon engagement thereof with the lever ll;

the spring returning the cam to the position as shown within the arcuate portion of the lever 4|. 7

One arm of the switch 32 is connected by a lead 48 to the low side of a suitable source of power supply, while the other arm of said switch is connected by a lead 50 through the primary winding 5| of a transformer 52 to the high side of the power supply 49. Thus the initial movement.of the face plate .28 in dialing the number of admissions collected will permit the switch 32 to close to energize the transformer 52.

The secondary winding 53 of the transformer is connected at one end to an arm of the switch Si by a lead 54. The other arm of the switch 3| is connected by a lead 55 through the energizing winding 55 of a stepping magnet 51 to the other side of the secondary winding 53. The stepping magnet 57 is provided with an armature 58, the movement of which each time the coils 56 are energized will actuate the pulsing arm 60 and the rotary switch arm 61 of a single level step switch 62. It will be apparent at this point that each time the number of admissions collected is dialed, the initial movement of the dial will permit the switch 32 to close to energize the transformer 52. The energization of the transformer will supply the voltage source for num- "ger pulsing switch 3| and the stepping magnet The stepping switch 62 is provided with. a contact 64 adapted to be engaged by the pulsing arm st, and a series of contacts 65 adapted to be engaged sequentially by the switch arm iii, the contacts 65 being here shown connected to. individual lights 66 of the overhead indicator It. The pulsing arm. 60 is actuated to engage the contact 64 in harmony with the advance of the rotary switch arm 5! after the first impulse received by the coil 56 of the step switch. It will be noted that the first contact of the series of contacts 65 are not otherwise connected into any circuit. The reason for this isin the closed contact: 3!. The contact 31 will be opened and then contact 32 however, will be closed immediately upon the initial movement of the dial. The transformer 52 will thus be energized and through the closed switch 3! energize the stepping magnet 51. The switch arm GI will thus be advanced one step although no count has been initiated by the returning faceplate 28. The first unconnected contact of the bank will thus prevent a false count from being registered.

The contact 64' of the stepping switch 32 is connected by a lead through the energizing coil ll of a stepping relay (2, and by lead 13 to the high side of the power supply 49. The armature of the relay i2 is adapted to advance a set of counter and/or printing Wheels M. Thus each time the switch 31 is opened and closed on the return of the face plate 28 to its initial position, the stepping magnet 5! is energized to actuate the switch arms 60 and El. The step by step advance of the switch arm 6| will cause the switch arm 60 to engage the contact 54, each engagement completing an energizing circuit for the relay 12. The wheels 14 will thus be advanced to give the total admissions collected.

Means is now provided in the box oifice control system for registering the number of transactions made.

To this end a steppingrelay I6 is provided, the energization of which will advance a set of counter and/or printing wheels H. The energizing coil 18 of the relay [6 is connected at one end by a lead 19 to the supply line 5!], and at the other end by a lead 80 to the lead between the switch 32 and the transformer winding 5| the transformer 52 and the relay coil 18 being in parallel. Each time the switch 32 is closed by the initiating movement of the face plate 28, the relay [6 is energized to advance the counter l! one number.

To correlate the number of transactions set up on the transaction counting wheels 1 with the actual number of cars permitted to enter the drive-in theatre, the treadle switch I? is placed in the roadway leading into the theatre so that a car entering will close the switch to complete an energizing circuit for the coil 84 of the relay 85. Energization of the relay 85 will advance the car count wheels each time a car enters the theatre. The totals of the car count wheels and the transaction wheels can then be compared.

It will be noted that the circuit for energizing the relay 85 will cause an actuation of the wheels for each axle passing over the treadle. It will be understood that the wheels 86 may be advanced one whole number for every double energization of the relay 35, or a binary counting circuit can be interposed between the treadle and the relay 85 to provide a single energization thereof for each double actuation of the treadle switch.

Means is now provided to operate the overhead indicator l8 upon the completion of each transaction and to maintain the indicator in operation until the next transaction takes place so that a visual indication is had as to the last transaction completed.

To this end the light relay 8'! is provided having a normally open switch 88 adapted to be closed upon energization of the relay coil 89. One end of the coil 89 is connected by a lead .lll to the power supply line 50, while the other end of the coil is connected by a lead 9i through the switch 33 and lead 92 to the other power lead 48. iOne side of the open switch is connected by a lead 93 to the lead 90, while the other side Oftthe switch is connected by a lead 94 through? the lights of the overhead indicator 18 to the con-'- tacts 65 of the stepping switch. i

When the face plate of the dial 22is rotated to initiate the admissioncount, the switch 33 of the dial is opened thereby opening the energizing circuit of the relay coil 89. With the relay deenergized, the associated switch 38 will be opened, thereby breaking the circuit of the overhead indicator. The switch 33 will remain open as the face plate is rotated in dialing the admission number and during the return thereof to its home position. The circuitspreviously de-' scribed for advancing the stepping switches will function to advance the counter wheels It and to position the switch arm 6| in engagement with a contact 65 corresponding to the admissions collected. When the face plate of the dial 22 returns to its home position the admission pulsing circuit will be broken by the opening of the switch 32, and the indicator circuit will be completed by the closing of the switch 33. Relay 3! will be energized and the switch 88 will be closed. The overhead indicator circuit will then be completed through a contact 65 and the engaging switch arm 6|. The circuit will remain completed until such time when a new transaction takes place. Meanwhile, for the purposes of checking, .or otherwise, the overhead indicatorremains operating. i l

Means is now provided to return the rotary switch arm Bl of the stepping switch to its home positions. i

To this end the resetting magnet 96 is provided in the stepping switch, one end of the energizing coil 91 thereof being connected by a lead 98 to one side of the transformer secondary 53, while the other end of the coil is connected by a lead 99 through the normally open switch 49 to the other side of the secondary winding.

Initiation of a transaction will close the switch 40 momentarily to energize the reset relay 96 to home the switch arm 6!. Since switch 32 is closed at the same time switch as is closed, the transformer 52 will be energized to supply the voltage source for the reset relay circuit. The opening of the switch 33 at the same time will open the overhead indicator circuit so that the return of the switch arm 6| to its initial position will not give a false or changing reading thereon. The homing of the rotary switch arm El will not actuate the pulsing switch arm 60.

The box oifice control system thus far described will provide a count of the adult admissions, a count of the number of transactions, a car count, and an overhead indication of the admissions collected. As shown-inFig. l of the drawings, a second dial 23 is provided for registering the count of children admissions. Since the primary purpose of this system is for checking receipts of audrive-in theatre and the unlikelihood of children driving cars, the transaction relay and its counter wheels are not included in the counting and indicating circuits associated with the children admission dial 23. Otherwise the circuits as described for the dial 22 are used for counting and indicating the children admissions.

The dial 24 of the register is provided to record the number of admissions on passes on which a revenue tax must be collected. The dial 24 may operate the same type of circuits herein described to indicate and record the admissions. It is probable however that full admission adults and taxable pass moviegoers will occupy the same car. In such a case the operation of the dials 22 and 24 will cause the transaction relay to be energized twice;- whereas theecarl'countftotal will only.:be:ad. vanced one count: For this reason. I prefer to leaveout. the transaction'relay l6ifrom the:taxable-passesr circuits and substitute therefor the passtransaction pushbutton I00. In a situation where passesalone are offered for admission the pushbutton I is depressed to' operate the counter-wheels H)! of: the register and printer. When'a car. of mixed admissions passes the toll both, the adult,.children andapasses can be registered. thenormalmanner, the pushbutton. Hm being left alone since the: transaction is being registered by the action of theswitch' 32. of. the dial 22'.

In the situation where free" passes are presented, as for example. by vending machine servicemen, no check on admissions is necessary. The pushbutton lflfl'fwillhowever'have to be depressed to bring the totals of the transaction counters in agreement with the car count.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a box ofii'ce control system for drive-in theatres in which the :several objects of. this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions offpractical'use.

Thus in the operation of the box ofiice control system described, a car and its occupants will approach the checkpoint represented by the toll booth at the entrance to the theatre and come to a halt. The cashier assigned'to the booth will note the number of occupants and the types of admissions represented thereby. The admissions are then collected by the cashier and the car with its occupants is permittedto proceedinto the th atre proper, in so doing, rolling over the treadle switch placed in the'roadway.

The'cashier will then dial the admissions collected' on the appropriate dials 22, 23, and/or 24. Assuming that the" last transaction registered comprised two adult and two'children admissions, then the-overhead indicator'wouldipresent an indication as shown: in Fig. 1 of the drawings. In dialing the new transaction, the initiation of the dialing-operation by: the cashier willprepare the counting circuits for a new pulsing cycle. The switches 32' and 40 will be closed, the switch 32 preparing the counting circuit for the pulsing cycle by energizing thetransformer 52, andthe switch 40 resetting the stepping switches. At the sametime the switch 33" will" be op'ened'todeenergize the indicator relayfilto'extingui'sh the last. transaction indicated thereon. Closin of the switch 32 will also actuate the transaction relay 16; so thata count is added to the wheels 11' for-each pulsing cycle. Gomparison of the car count" wheels and the transaction wheels can readily be made.

. It willab'e' appreciated. that the various counter wheel'ssdescribedin the within specification may include printing wheelsand a periodic print may be made one tape of: the transaction totals, or

8 each transaction may readily be recorded on such a tape..

As various embodiments can be made of" the above invention, and as various changes can be made in the embodiment setforth above, it will be understood that allmatter herein set forth'or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be illterpreted as illustrative and not in a limitin sense.

Having thus described my invention, I desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A boxioffice control system for drive-in theatres comprising a counting circuit including counter wheels, means for pulsing said counting circuit a number of times correspondingto the number of admissions collected-from each car as it passes a check point to advance the counter wheels a number equal to the pulses of the pulsing cycle, a stepping switch ad'vanced'by the pulses of said counting circuit, an indicator connected to'said. stepping switch, means for energi'zing said indicator upon completion of the pulsing cycle, said means operating to deenergize said indicator at the beginning of a subsequent pulsing cycle, and means for resetting said stepping switch upon initiating said subsequent pulsing cycle.

2. A box oilicecontrol system for drive-in theatres comprising a counting circuit, a telephone dial, a switch actuated'by'the initial movement of the dial to energize the counting circuit, switch means actuated by the return of the dial to its initial position to provide a number of impulses in said energized circuit corresponding to the number dialed, an elect'ro-magnetie counter advanced a step for each impulse in said circuit, a stepping switch advanced a step for each impulse in said circuit, an indicator connected to said stepping switch for indicating thenumher of impulses, and a switch operated by said dial at the completion of the pulsing cycle to'energize said indicator, said last switch deenergizing said indicator upon initiating a subsequent dialing operation.

3. A box ofiicecontrol system for drive-in theatres according to claim 2 including an electromagnetic counter adapted to be advanced one step upon actuation of said first switch by said dial, and a fourth switch actuated by said dial upon initiation of the dialing operation to reset said stepping switch.

, RALPH L. THOMPSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED= STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,911',863 Webner May 30, 1933 2,340,635 Anderson Feb. 1, 1944 2,487,463 Miller Nov. 8, 1949 

